evo magazine’s Dickie Meaden is the latest reviewer to put Porsche’s new Cayman S through it’s paces on the road before heading to Portimao Circuit.
Powering the S is that 3.4-litre flat-six engine developing a healthy 239 kW (325 hp) and 370 Nm of torque; enough for a 5.0 second sprint to 100 km/h (PDK 4.9 s) and a 283 km/h top speed. Porsche’s optional Sport Chrono package shaves a further 0.2s from the 0-100 km/h time.
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Ahead of its official unveiling in New York (March 29 – April 7), here are the first official images of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG, which have leaked onto our laps, leaving us with a warm – but slightly shameful – feeling.
Utilizing the same platform and drivetrain as the cheeky A 45 AMG, the CLA has 265 kW (360 hp) and 450 Nm of torque at its disposal thanks to the newly developed all-aluminium AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine.
That power is transferred to a revised version of the company’s AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive system via a SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, resulting in a sub-five second 0-100 km/h time and a limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Uprated hardware includes an SLS AMG-derived cooling circuit, an AMG braking system with cross-drilled 350 x 32 mm front discs and 330 x 22 mm rears, tweaked speed-sensitive sports steering, stiffer steering knuckles and more rigid bearings in the lower link plane for increased cornering properties.
Visually the CLA 45 AMG wears a matte grey twin blade radiator grille, AMG front apron with oversized air intakes, side skirts, a rear apron with air outlets and diffuser, twin trapezoidal tailpipes and matte 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels covered in 235/40 tyres.
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Fichtenberg-based suspension specialist KW Automotive has developed three coilover suspensions systems to suit the latest Volkswagen Golf.
The base Variant 1 kit includes preconfigured dampers with adjustable spring platforms allowing a drop of between 35 – 65 mm in ride height, while the sportier Variant 2 option gains dampers with 16 clicks of rebound damping adjustment, allowing the driver to find the right balance between comfort and stiffness.
Finally, the stainless steel Variant 3+ program not only features rebound damping, but also enjoys twelve clicks of compression damping adjustment, meaning rolling and pitching can be minimized and directional stability significantly improved.
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Eppelborn-based aftermarket specialist FolienCenter has released details of its Audi TT RS project car.
Visually this Coupe wears the company’s new aluminium-look foil on its hood, radiator grille surround and rear wing, while the factory wheels have made way for a set of 9 x 20-inch Audi RS 6 alloy wheels wrapped in Hankook S1 Evo tyres. A Bilstein B16 coilover set-up provides the require drop in ride height.
Thankfully, when it came to improving the car’s performance, FolienCenter called for assistance from the guys at LOBA Motorsport, who fitted their racing-spec LO500P turbocharger unit, which currently sees service in the Pirelli World Challenge GTS cars. An uprated intercooler, high-pressure fuel pump, optimized ECU software and Milltek exhaust system equipped with HJS high-flow sport catalytic converters were also thrown into the mix.
Those tweaks see output from the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine jump from 250 kW (335 hp) and 450 Nm of torque to 374 kW (501 hp) and 563 Nm, allowing a new 0-100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds and a heady top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph).
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Düsseldorf-based tuning specialist Anderson Germany has released details of its program to suit the current Bentley Continental GT.
The performance upgrade comprises of optimized ECU software and a full exhaust system with remotely-controlled adjustable valves, which sees output from the 6-litre, 12-cylinder, twin-turbocharged unit rise from 429 kW (575 hp) to a more imposing 507 kW (680 hp). Chassis changes include an uprated Brembo brake kit and a set of the company’s gloss black/carbon five-spoke alloy wheels, which measure 9 and 10.5 x 22-inches and come wrapped in 265/30 and 295/25 rubber.
Visually the Grey Hyper Gloss Metallic Continental wears a carbon fibre aero package consisting of a front apron and spoiler, ventilated hood, grille surround, side skirts, boot lid and rear apron with diffuser section.
Moving inside, the cabin is reupholstered in leather and Alcantara, there’s also LED footwell lighting and carbon fibre elements on the paddles, steering wheel, centre console and door panels.
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Here’s a couple of videos featuring Rammersdorf-based Dutter Racing’s Audi 90 quattro.
The first shows the car in action on the dragstrip at Vilshofen, while the second offers a glimpse of it towards the end of the winter rebuild. In its previous guise the 90 was developing 673 kW (915 hp) and 955 Nm of torque from the five-cylinder 20-valve 2.5-litre unit fed by a GT42 ball bearing turbocharger.
Sadly, Jürgen Dutter had a full-time job trying to control the car, as it had a tendency to skitter across the track like a smashed transvestite attempting to run in 8-inch platforms. And we all know how tricky that can be.
So, new for the 2013 season is a set of colossal wheel arches, which house much-needed wider rubber, and a revised ‘eight-second’ motor. The rear doors have also been sealed up along the way.
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